Vera Macdonald

What can I say? The proof of the gingerbread will be in the eating. Having a friend in for coffee and hoping she won’t faint from shock.

Cool new scales are an inspiration

I’ve had a horrible cold since flying back from Cardiff - is there a conenction perhaps with air quality on the plane? Been feeling miserable but the weather is getting milder so I got out for a wee walk yesterday. Today is my eye test then probably take the prescription to the cheap shop for the actual specs- how busy I am! All this in one day, it’s funny how the tasks fill the time.

That’s Wales to you and me - just spent a week there vbisiting friends in Cardiff, Cymllynfell (bet you can’t pronounce that one) and Swansea. Visited the Welsh Assembly on St David’s Day, 1 March and was lucky enough to meet a visitor guide who had nothing much to do so gave us security passes and took us right in to the business end of the assembly - how lucky were we?

Stunning view upwards from the Assembly

The whole building is stunning, original, unique and definitely Welsh, with lots of slate everywhere and just such attention to detail.

And to think I know the artists!

Here’s the view across Mumbles Bay towards Swansea - from Verdi’s fabby cafe.

Laughter and Mumbles

It was Auntie Margaret’s 98th birthday, and we caught the whole generation together, and that’s 365 years between them. No bad going!

365 years of family

My pal Jim the Painter has been here and my old bedroom, now the double guest room, is a completely different, new shade of white. It looks good and best of all, all the wee cracks are filled and painted over. Also had a mega shopping spree with Linda and Mary when we all bought stuff but the most remarkable for me is a frock - I bought a frock. Not yet sure wheter I’ll keep it.

I was planning to head up north to visit the ‘golden oldies’ but my plans have been scuppered again by snow. Just a slight covering here but a good few inches up north, so not good for taking them out to visit each other. I’ll try again later this month.

I had a fab time and wandered around in familiar (Covent Gardens) and less familiar (Spittalfield Market) areas. Spent a whole, rainy day in Tate Modern and did the tour so I ahd some idea what the weird and wonderful artworks are about. Here are some snaps of less usual London.

Only umbrellas

John Betjeman in St Pancras

Tate Modern's neighbours

I’m heading to London on Wednesday for a few days, so I hope to have lots of interesting photos and things to post when I get back next week sometime. I’ve nearly finished my filing at work, so I’m getting into that ‘not working’ mode. So far, so good.

I got a new microwave yesterday, chosen not for its green credentials or its price, but for its size, the smallest available, and of course for its good looks in my fabby kitchen. Note the Warhol tea towel in the bottom corner, and the brightness in the top corner. The bulb went weeks ago but we couldn’t work out how to remove it and here we are 2010 and it’s working again - it’s a sign, I’m sure it is!

Shiny new microwave for 2010

It’s minus 3, my road is a sheet of ice and I’m at home, toasty warm with total disregard for the planet or my gas bill, so I’m happy. I wish everyone all the very best for 2010.